TL:DR

Pritzker delivered remarks on that order during his "State of the State" speech Wednesday

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker vowed to sign an executive order aimed at speeding up construction of new nuclear reactors in the state.

During his “State of the State” address in Springfield Wednesday, Pritzker said such a step was needed to improve energy production in the state, with savings potentially passed onto consumers.

“The economic opportunity of building new clean power is enormous, so today I’ve issued an executive order designed to speed up building new clean nuclear power so we can increase our electricity supply and secure our energy future,” he said.

Pritzker said that “affordability, safety and reliability” would be prioritized in that effort, ensuring that regulations allow for such construction to begin while maintaining strict safety standards around new construction.

The Illinois General Assembly passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act last year. The bill contained a host of energy policy initiatives, including paving the way for the construction of new nuclear plants in the state.

Pritzker signed the bill in Jan. 2026.

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“In Illinois, we are pursuing every available option to produce affordable, efficient, clean, and abundant energy. We are leaving no stone unturned in the work to produce more electricity, lower prices for our people, and secure our long-term energy future,” Pritzker said in a signing statement. “The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act sets a national standard in the effort to lower energy costs and marks a historic step forward in our clean energy vision. Once again, Illinois is stepping up where the federal government is failing.”

The bill lifted a moratorium on the construction of large nuclear reactors in the state, and also sought to increase capacity and lower energy bills through encouraging residents to install smart thermostats, solar panels and other energy-saving technology on their homes and businesses.

In 2021, Pritzker had signed a bill requiring the state of Illinois to convert to carbon-free electricity by the year 2045. That bill would close coal-fired plants and ramp up investments in solar and wind energy, while also providing funding to keep several nuclear power plants open.

Climate Jobs Illinois, which represents workers in the energy sector, praised the move by Pritzker to speed construction of nuclear power plants with the aim of carbon-free energy being adopted by the state.

“If the goal is to ease pressure on consumers and strengthen long-term affordability, the most durable solution is not limiting economic growth — it is expanding the reliable, carbon-free energy supply that powers it. Illinois’ ability to attract major employers and protect ratepayers depends on ensuring we have abundant, stable generation to meet rising demand,” the group said in a statement. “That is why we strongly commend the Governor’s executive order to expand nuclear energy capacity. Strengthening Illinois’ nuclear fleet will help stabilize the grid, put downward pressure on long-term energy costs, and create thousands of high-quality union jobs across the state.”

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I wonder how much of this is driven by AI data center boom. But nuclear plants take what 15 to 20 years before they provide power? But good for the State of Illinois making it clear they want Nuclear energy.